Vending machine for dispensing rectangular and cylindrical products through common opening



United States Patent 72] Inventor H. Russell Brand 62 S. Bay Drive,Massapequa, New York 1 l 758 [21 Appl. No. 697,432

[22] Filed Jan. 12, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 17, 1970 [54] VENDINGMACHINE FOR DIS PENSING RECTANGULAR AND CYLINDRICAL PRODUCTS THROUGHCOMMON OPENING 2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 194/79, 221/251, 221/289 [51] Int. Cl G07fl1/00 [50] Fieldof Search 221/251,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 579,330 3/1897 Peterson194/79 798,626 9/1905 Regan 194/79 1,708,441 4/1929 Cole l94/79UX2,661,991 12/ l 953 Petrecca 221/289X 2,903,155 9/1959 Whitefield221/261X 2,903,158 9/1959 Howard 221/261 497,906 5/1893 .Bettini...194/80 1,275,153 8/1918 Hartman 194/80 1,356,345 10/1920 Dun Lany...221/298 1,713,333 5/1929 Economos.. 221/131 1,969,170 8/1934 Erickson221/251 2,142,053 12/1938 Hoban... 221/298 2,604,577 7/1952 Stricklandeta 221/298 2,957,605 10/1960 Gabrialsen 221/124 2,974,828 3/1961Matteson..... 221/251 3,135,424 6/1964 Peppler 221/251 PrimaryExaminer-Samuel F. Coleman AttorneyAlfred W. Barber ABSTRACT:Rectangular and cylindrical products are stacked in adjacent columns andare dispensed by mechanically similar mechanisms. A coin deposited forpurchase serves to engage the mechanism which prepares the way fordelivery of the products. However, after this preparation, the deliveryis effected on the return stroke of the delivery handle. Bothrectangular and cylindrical products are delivered by mechanicallysimilar means and delivery is completed through a common opening.Unauthorized repetition of delivery of products is virtually impossibledue to the two step operation of the vending machine.

Patented Nov. 17, 1910 Sheet IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,564

Sheet 2 of 5 y l4 INVENTOR.

H. RUSSELL BRAND ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Sheet ,3 of 5 INVENTOR.

H.RUSSELL BRAND ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Sheet i of 5 R. m m V m4| H.'RUSSELL BRAND ATTORNEY Patent ed Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,564

Sheet 5 of 5 INVENTOR.

H. RUSSELL BRAND ATTORN EY VENDING MACHINE FOR DISPENSING RECTANGULARAND CYLINDRICAL PRODUCTS THROUGH COMMON OPENING BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention may beconsidered as falling within the scope of Class 194, Check-ControlledApparatus, Subclass 79, Article Delivery and/or Class 221, ArticleDispensing, Subclass 251, with separate holdback means or Subclass 245,with return stroke inhibitor (i.e. full-stroke mechanism).

2. Description of the Prior Art British Pat. No. 324,142 issued to Blairon Jan. 23, 1930 shows a vending machine for dispensing rectangular.packages from a stack of such packages, US. Pat. No. 2,599,685 issued toBerger et al. on June 10, 1952 shows a vending machine for dispensingcylindrical packages from a stack of such packages. There is nosuggestion as to how two machines, Le. one dispensing rectangularpackages and one dispensing cylindrical packages can be combined intoone machine. Furthermore, it is not shown or suggested how the twodispensing mechanisms can be constructed of several of the same partsthereby reducing manufacturing costs and the'number of different partsrequired.

SUMMARY The vending machine in accordance with the present invention issimple, rugged and reliable usinga minimum number of different parts.Rectangular and cylindrical packages are stored in adjacent verticalstacks thereby making efficient use of the space within the machine andstoring a maximum number of packages in the storage space. Operation ofthe machine is in two steps: first, after a coin has been deposited, theoperating handle is locked. by the coin to the dispensing mechanism sothat when it is pulled out, a package is dropped to delivery readyposition; second, when the handle is pushed in, the coin is dropped intoa collecting box and the package is dumped into a common delivery chute.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a vendingmachine which. uses a duplication of parts to deliver rectangular andcylindrical packages.

Another object is to provide a vending machine which uses the purchasingcoin to lock the package delivery mechanism which in turn prepares thepackage for deliver.

Still another object is to provide a vending machine in which theoperating handle must be pulled out with a coin mechanically engagingthe delivery. make-ready mechanism and in which the handle must -bepushed in to complete delivery, the coin being released and collected atthe instant the handle direction of travel is reversed.

A further object is to provide a vending machine which is simple toconstruct, uses a minimum number of differentparts and which is ruggedand reliable in operation.

A still further object is to provide a vending machine which cannot berepeated by maintaining-pressure or pull on the operating handle.

These and other objects will be apparent from the detailed descriptionof the invention given in connection with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a general view inperspective of the operational assembly of a vending machine inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but viewed from a different angle.

FIGS. 3 and 5 are view of the rectangular package-vending portion of thevending machine illustrating the two steps of the operating cycle.

FIG. 4 is a detail of the-coin lockup mechanism.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are view of the cylindrical package-vending portion of themachine illustrating the twosteps of the operating cycle.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are simplified schematic representations useful inexplaining the operation of the machine in vending rectangular packages.J

FIGS. 11, I2 and 13 are simplified schematic representations useful inexplaining the operation of the machine in vending cylindrical packages.

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the operational assembly without anenclosing cabinet in order to more clearly show the mode of operation.The four major structural parts include a main upright channel 1-2-3 ofbent'sheetmetal for holding a stack of rectangular packages; anauxiliary formed channel 5- 6-7 for holding a stack of cylindricalpackages; a bent sheet metal base 4; and a formed delivery chute 14. Topermit easy .fllling of the rectangular package channel. the auxiliarychannel is mounted on tabs 8 and 11 which are pivoted on mounting angle9 and 12 by means of bolts 10 and 13. At the left side of the machine apull handle 21 operates the rectangular package delivery mechanismincluding tube 17 secured by split washer 18 in response to a coindropped into coin slot 16. At the right side of the machine a pullhandle 22 operates a round package delivery mechanism including tube 19in response to a coin dropped into coin slot 15.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. I but taken fromthe left side rather than the right side. This view shows the left endof tube 19 secured by a split washer 20 and the projection of tube 17through wall 3 of the rectangular package channel.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 shows the inner working mechanism with the channelsremoved for clarity. Handle 21 serves to pull a rod 24 passing through acentral hole in actuating block 23 adapted to slide-in and out past aguide block 37. When a coin 45 is deposited in coin slot 16, it passesdown a chute 21 and if handle 21 is pushed all the way in, the coinlodges in a slot 38 (See FIG. 4) in rod 24 and locks rod 24 to actuatingblock 23. Now, when handle 21 is pulled out, arm 26, attached to block23 by suitable means such as screws 47 and 48, is moved outwardlyturning tube 17 by means of crank 27 through an angle of about degrees,as shown in FIG. 5. In this position the cutout portion 35-36 pointsdownward and the remaining portion of tube 17 forms a resting platformalong with shelf 28 for a rectangular package 33 to be delivered.Package 33 isallowed to drop onto these resting means since the upperend of 33 allowing it to drop down the delivery chute 14. At the sametimecrank 27 pulls on spring 31 rotating rod 29 counterclockwise and soforcing retaining points 30 into the next remaining package 34 and thusretaining it and any packages stacked above it. When the handle 21 hasbeen returned to the initial position as shown in FIG. 3, the vendingmachine is ready for another cycle of operation.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show the two step delivery cycle in simplified. form.FIG. 8 shows handle 21 in and rectangular packages restrained byretaining points 30. FIG. 9 shows the first step in which handle 21 ispulled out, points 30 retracted. tube 17 rotated and package 32 restingon tube 17 and shelf 28 ready for deliver. FIG. 10 shows the second stepwith handle 21 pushed in, points 30 restraining the packages 33, 34.tube 17 rotated allowing package 32 to fall into delivery chute 14.

FIGS. 6-and 7 show the similar operations which deliver cylindricalpackages. The handle 22 on the right side of the machine carries a rod42 passing through a central hole in actuating block 41 guided by block44. Actuating arm 39 attached to block 41 by suitable means such asscrews 49 and 50 moves forward when handle 22 is pulled out after a coin46 has been deposited locking rod 42 to block 41 (as shown in FlG. 4).As arm 39 moves forward, crank 40 rotates tube 19 allowing a cylindricalpackage 53 to drop into the cutout portion 51. When handle 21 is pushedback in, to the initial position shown in FIG. 6, arm 39 rotates crank40 and tube 19 counterclockwise dumping a cylindrical package 52 intothe delivery chute 14. Coin 46 is dropped at the start of the returncycle shown in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate the two step cycle accomplishing thedelivery of cylindrical packages. In FIG. 11 the handle is in and thetube 19 is rotated to restrain the stack of cylindrical packages. FIG.12 shows the first step of the cycle, the make-ready portion, with tube19 rotated to receive a package 52 to be delivered. FIG. 13 shows thesecond step when the handle is pushed in, tube 19 turns the cutoutforward dumping a package 52 into the delivery chute 14 and restrainingthe undelivered stack of cylindrical packages 53-54.

lclaim:

l. A coin-operated vending machine for dispensing rectangular andcylindrical packages comprising:

a first tubular member open longitudinally along its side and pivoted tobe rotatable about its axis for receiving a cylindrical package to bedispensed;

a first manually operable plunger including a first coin slot;

a linkage means coupled to said first tubular member for rotating saidtubular member about its axis to dispense a package, said linkage meansbeing connected to said first plunger for actuation after a coin isdeposited in said first coin slot;

a first coin shoot positioned to direct a deposited coin into said firstcoin slot;

a secondmanually operated plunger including a second coin slot; a secondcoin shoot positioned to direct a deposited coin into said second coinslot; and

second means coupled to said second plunger in response to a coindeposited in said coin slot for holding a stack of rectangular packagesto be dispensed, said second holding means including similar secondtubular member and a shoulder cooperating with said second tubularmember to support said stack of rectangular packages to be dispensed.

2. The vending machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said second holdingmeans additionally comprises a crank connected to said second tubularmeans, a pivotably supported rod having a plurality of retaining pointsfor normal contact with the bottom rectangular package. and a springcoupled between said crank and said rod for pivoting said rod todisengage said retaining points from the bottom package upon manualoperation ofsaid second plunger.

